Human trafficking task force selects new project director

CONCORD - The New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force announced on Wednesday that Rebecca Ayling has been selected as its new Project Director.

Ayling has worked as a social worker for nine years, starting her career as a social worker with the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth, and Families, according to a task force press release on Wednesday.

She then worked with children and families in need of social services and support in England.

For the last two years she has focused on helping human trafficking victims and developing strategies to address human trafficking both globally and locally. Ayling previously worked for an international anti-trafficking organization in Bangkok, Thailand, where she worked to identify and assist victims of human trafficking. She currently serves as a Senior Intensive Case Manager at Child and Family Services, a private non-profit, where she has worked to develop plans to combat human trafficking in New Hampshire.

Ayling holds a B.S. from North Central University and Master of Social Work degree from the University of New Hampshire.

Ayling was selected after an extensive interview process conducted by the Manchester Police Department, Child and Family Services, and several other representatives of the Task Force.

"Rebecca's experience in combatting human trafficking both in New Hampshire and elsewhere will make her an excellent Project Director," said Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley. "The other Task Force members and I look forward to working with her to combat the terrible problem of human trafficking. We are confident that she will provide the leadership that the Task Force needs to coordinate our community's effort to combat this troubling issue."

"Child and Family Services has the utmost confidence in Rebecca's ability as the Project Director," said Program Director Erin Kelly. "Rebecca has the passion and commitment it will take to succeed in this position and to lead the Task Force onto meeting its goals of combating all forms of human trafficking through services, prosecution, and prevention."

The Task Force is funded by a $1.3 million grant from the United States Department of Justice. Its goals are to ensure that comprehensive and specialized services are made available to victims of human trafficking through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach and that perpetrators of sex trafficking and forced labor are investigated and prosecuted.

The core team members of the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Task Force are the Manchester Police Department, Child and Family Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorney's Office.